After the fires...any updates?

[Donzie]

We haven't heard any news (even on TV) about the aftermath of the CA. fires. Did everyone here make it thru ok? There were some great photos posted during the ordeal and looked like some pretty close calls. I, and I'm sure others, would like to hear "the rest of the story".

[geemann51]

I'm pretty sure most of the SD folks on here are ok. I kinda keep a mental roster of all the local HAMB members and have either heard there ok or I have seen various posts from most that I know.

We all know someone though that has lot their home or business. Approximately 2500-2700 homes were lost here in SD county and I believe the death toll hovers around 16. There were fears that the number of casualties would increase as the fires became contained and the back country could be explored a little bit more meticulously.

Though alot of the devistated areas are in San Diego back country, the adjacent communities were effected hard. Each day I watch the news and see something different that I hadn't seen before. This morning the newcast showed an entire school burned to the ground. Also lost were several churches.

The rain that fell last weekend quickly helped the firefighters get a handle on the smoldering and seemed to help improve the air quality. If you remember some of the earlier pictures that Charlie Led and Mike posted, the sky was ominously bizarre. One week later the sky was the most vivid blue I could remember. Maybe just seemed that way in contrast to what we saw the week before.

Catastrophes of this magnitude seem to bring communities closer and this is certainly no exception. Fundraisers and fire relief funds abound, and though the damage will be in the billions, the rebuilding is already beginning.

Thanks for your concern, I hope I provided an adequate recap. I havn't heard much either from our neighbors to the north, I'm sure someone will chime in.

G

[CharlieLed]

Given the magnitude of the fires and how fast they moved through the San Deigo area, we are all very fortunate to escape the devastation as well as we did. I don't think that there is anybody here that can say that they don't have at least one friend, coworker, or relative that didn't lose their home to the fire. The air is clear now and the cleanup well under way. Some rural areas are still without power but the system is promised to be fully operational by mid-Nov. Here is another pic that I just received, I live on the ridge of this valley (El Cajon) just off the left side of the photo, not much else to say...
I am sure that all the good thoughts and prayers from everyone made a major difference, thanks again.

[abe lugo]

All seems well in LA, Most of the fires out, rain came a calm them down some. We ran a clothing and donation drive at work. I hope everything works outs for everyone